Blast door operating piston with built-in control



Nov. 13, 1962 M. CLN'EUMAN BLAST DOOR OPERATING PISTON WITH BUILT-INCONTROL 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 22, 1959 INVENTOR Milton C.Neumqn Nov. 13, 1962 M. c. NEUMAN 3,053,428

BLAST DOOR OPERATING PISTON WITH BUILT-IN CONTROL 8 Sheets-Sheet 2Original Filed Oct. 22, 1959 Nov. 13, 1962 M. c. NEUMAN 3,063,423

BLAST DOOR OPERATING PISTON WITH BUILT-IN CONTROL Original Filed Oct.22, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 13, 1962 M. c. NEUMAN 3,063,428

BLAST DOOR OPERATING PISTON WITH BUILT-IN CONTROL Original Filed 001:.22, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 13, 1962 M. c. NEUMAN 3,063,428

BLAST DOOR OPERATING PISTON WITH BUILT-IN CONTROL Original Filed Oct.22, 1959 a Sheets-Sheet 5 gags so I Nov. 13, 1962 M. c. NEUMAN 3,063,423

BLAST DOOR OPERATING PISTON WITH BUILT-IN CONTROL Original Filed Oct.22, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 8

SELECTOR VALVE 4086 DIRECTIONAL VALVE PA PA ORlFlCE Nov. 13, 1962 M. c.jEUMAN 3,

BLAST DOOR OPERATING PI TON WITH BUILT-IN CONTROL Original Filed 001:.22, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 SELECTOR VALVE 4086 DIRECTIONAL VALVE PA PAORIFICE Nov. 13, 1962 M. c. NEUMAN 3,063,428

' BLAST DOOR OPERATING PISTON WITH BUILT-IN CONTROL Original Filed 001;.22, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 LECTOR VALVE DIRECTIONAL VALVE PA PA ORIFICE 6Claims. (Cl. 121--46) This invention relates generally to expansiblechamber motors, and more particularly it pertains to hydraulicallyoperated cylinder door openers. This invention finds particularlyutility in connection with the operation of blast doors used in guidedmissile launching systems. The present application is a division of US.Patent Application, Serial Number 848,163, filed on October 22, 1959, byMyron J. Bauer et al. for Guided Missile Launching System.

Heavy doors, such as used in the previously mentioned guided missilelaunching system, are of necessity power operated. In automatic systemsof which such doors form a part, gentle, yet effective closing andterminal opening operation thereof are required to prevent damage. Yetfor best efficiency, such as required in modern warfare, speed ofoperation is essential.

An automatic system employing heavy blast doors on shipboard and ofwhich the present invention forms a part is described in the applicationmentioned above.

Accordingly, it is an object of this present invention to provide a dooroperating power piston having an operating rate dependent upon thedegree of extension thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pivoted power pistonhaving an adjustable rod end pivot pin.

And another object of this invention is to provide a pivoted powerpiston having fluid conducting passages in its pivotal mounting base.

These and other objects and attendant advantages of this invention willbecome more readily apparent and understood from the accompanyingspecification and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, with parts removed, of upper and lower blastdoors of a guided missile launching system in an opened position;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the pair of upper and lower blast doorsof FIG. 1 in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, with parts removed, of the upper and lowerblast doors in a closed position, and showing the power pistonsincorporating features of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a dimetric cutaway view, partly in cross section, of a powerpiston assembly;

FIG. 5 is a dimetric cutaway view, partly in cross section, of a controlrod;

FIG. 6 is a hydraulic schematic of the lower blast door in closedposition;

FIG. 7 is a dirnetric view of a launcher, span track, and blast doorcomponents;

FIG. 8 is a schematic of a power piston assembly and control with thepiston retracted;

FIG. 9 is a schematic of the power piston assembly of FIG. 8 and controltherefor with the piston extending; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic of the power piston assembly of FIGS. 8 and 9 andcontrol therefor with the piston retracting.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 7 of the drawings, there is showngenerally a blast door 4000 for passing weapon articles, such as missileweapons, through a ship bulkhead or deckhouse face 8016. The blast door4000 3,003,428 Patented Nov. 13., 1962 comprises a frame 4006, an upperdoor 4004, a lower door 4002, and a tramway span track assembly 4001.

The span track assembly 4001 is secured to the inner face of the upperdoor 4004 and it is used, when extended, as shown in FIG. 1, as the railof a conveyer for the article, such as the missile weapon to a launcher5000, shown in FIG. 7. The article, in this instance, is a missileweapon having wings and iins located in four positions at substantially45 to the longitudinal axis thereof and is cruciform in section whichexplains the hour-glass opening of the doorway.

The upper and lower doors 4004 and 4002, respectively, are hinged at thetop and bottom on a horizontal plane so as to overlap slightly when theyare closed and thus then tightly seal the doorway against blast andheavy seas.

For this reason and because the upper door 4004 supports the span trackassembly 4001, the construction of the doors 4002 and 4004 is massiveand must be power operated. The opening and closing speed of both theupper and lower doors 4004 and 4002., respectively, is required to beregulated to maintain a given velocity at a given position, regardlessof gravitational forces or motion of the ship. As the lower and upperdoors 4002 and 4004 near their fully open or fully closed positions, itis desired that the speed of each gradually be reduced.

Each blast door 4002 and 4004 is opened and closed by two hydraulicallyoperated pistons 4070 and 4071, and 4072 and 4073, respectively, asshown best in FIGS. 1, 3, and 7. The pistons 4070 and 4071, and 4072 and4073, on both the lower and upper doors 4002 and 4004, respectively, aresimilar in design and identical in operation, but differ in size andassigned designations. The lower door power pistons 4070 and 4071 forthe lower door 4002 are shorter than the two upper door power pistons4072 and 4073 operating the upper door 4004,

as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, wherein the nearest lower power piston 4070has been removed for clarity.

As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3, a pair of mounting brackets 4080 areprovided to hold the lower end of the pistons 4070 and 4071. Thesebrackets 4080, in turn, are mounted to the deck 8002 of the vessel.Adjustable links 4076 and 4077 are screwed to the top of the piston rods4078 of the pistons 4070 and 4071, as shown in FIG. 4, and they arepinned to the outrigged sect-ion of a pair of lower door hinges 4030 and4031, respectively. The righthand inboard power piston 4073 and thelefthand outboard power piston 4072 open and close the upper blast door4004.

As shown best in FIG. 1, piston rods 4078 of the upper door powerpistons 4072 and 4073 are pinned to brackets 4104 located on each sideof a span track support 4106. Piston mounting brackets 4108 are boltedto the interior wall of the overhead 8005 of the aft deckhouse of theship, as shown in FIG. 3. With the exception of their greater length,the assemblies for the pistons 4072 and 4073 resemble the assemblies forthe lower door piston 4070 and 4071 in all significant details.

The principle components of the assembly for each power piston 4070 and4071 includes the mounting brackets 4080, bracket 4308, a pivot pin4081, a cylinder block 4082, a cylinder 4083, a control rod 4086, apiston 4002, a sleeve 4096, the adjustable connecting link 4076 (4077),and a pipe assembly 4088, as shown in detail.

in FIG. 4.

The mounting bracket 4080 is bolted to the deck of the vessel or shipand it anchors the piston 4070 (4071).

pin 4081 and they lead to annular grooves, which connect with fluidpassages in the cylinder block 4082. The flanged end of the pivot pin4081 is bolted to the mounting bracket 4080.

The cylinder block 4082 is pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 4081. Thiscylinder block 4082 is fitted between a pair of spaced ears 4084 and4085 of the mounting bracket 4080. Other piston components, such as thecylinder 4083, the control rod 4086, and the pipe assembly 4088, arebolted to this cylinder block 4082.

The control rod 4086 is essentially a hollow steel rod which extendsupwardly from the cylinder block 4082. Control grooves 4090, that is,tapere d longitudinal grooves, are cut into the outer surface of the rod4086, as shown in FIG. 5. The depth of each groove 4090 increasesprogressively from either end of the rod toward a point between the endsof the groove. This variation of groove depth acts as a variableorifice, since hydraulic fluid must pass through these grooves 4090 whenthe blast door 4002 opens or closes.

The piston 4092 is provided with a cylindrical opening therethrough sothat it can fit onto the control rod 4086. The larger lower end, or headof the piston .092, slides in the bore of the cylinder 4083, and it isequipped with small annular grooves 4093, as shown in FIG. 4. The groves4093 prevent hyldraulic slippage from building up more separating forcebetween the piston diameter and the cylinder wall, on one side than theother.

In FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, there are schematic diagrams of the basicelements of a door power operating piston, such as 4070, and controltherefor, showing the piston 4092 retracted, piston 4092 extending, andpiston 4092 retracting, respectively. On the extend stroke of the piston4092, it is to be noted that the hydraulic fluid must pass through thecenter of the control rod 4086 back through the control groves 4090 inthe control rod 4086 to displace the piston 4092. The grooves 4090 inthe rod 4086 are out similar to a keyway. The variations in the depth ofthe groove provide a variable size orifice for controlling the velocityof the piston 4092 on the extend and retract strokes. Opposite ends ofthe groove 4090 are ported to opposite ends of the spring centeredmetering valve 4100. The valve 4100 meters the flow of hydraulic fluidto maintain a constant pressure drop through the variable orificeregardless of the direction of movement of the piston 4092. Thecombination of the control grooves 4090 and metering valve 4100 providespecific acceleration, deceleration and velocity rates through repeatedcycles independent of the motion of the ship or vessel and the viscosityof the fluid.

FIG. 8 shows that the orifice passage is completely closed when thepiston 4092 is fully retracted which is also the condition when thepiston is extended. Since it is desirable to have some hitting speed atthe stroke extremes, a fixed orifice is provided in the valve block thatconnects opposite ends of the metering valve 4100. In addition, theorifice location selected provides access for adjustment of the impactvelocity by redrilling the orifice hole size.

The directional valves included with the two controls serve twofunctions. The solenoid selector valves are relatively small in size andeach acts as a pilot valve to shift the directional or transfer valvewhich is proportioned to handle the rather large volume of fluidinvolved. In addition, it is necessary to sequence the pilot flow andrelease the securing latches before the operating piston 4092 issubjected to the accumulator pressure.

A flange 4094 on the inside of the head slides on the control rod 4086.This flange 4094 forces the hydraulic fluid to flow through thedeceleration grooves 4090 when the piston 4092 is either extending orretracting. The piston rod 4078, which is formed of Monel or similarmaterial, is welded to the head of the piston and it extends from thetop of the cylinder 4083. A shallow 4 threaded hole at the upper end ofthe piston rod 4078 holds the adjustable link 4076 (4077).

The cylinder 4083 is a hollow steel tube in which the piston 4092slides. The lower end of the cylinder 4083 is bolted to the cylinderblock 4082, while the upper end thereof holds the sleeve 4096. Thesleeve 4096 is bolted to the top of the cylinder 4083, and it isutilized to guide the piston rod 4078. The sleeve 4096 is equipped withgrooves and seals 4097 to prevent leakage of hydraulic fluid.

The previously mentioned pipe assembly 4088 is attached to the outsideof the cylinder 4083. This pipe assembly 4088 conducts hydraulicpressure fluid from the cylinder block 4082 to the rod end of the piston4078. The adjustable link 4076 (4077) screwed into the end of the pistonrod 4078 is pinned to the outrigged section of the lower door hinges ashas been related. When adjusted, a locknut and a lockring (not shown)secure the link 4076 (4077) in position.

To extend the piston rod 4078, hydraulic pressure fluid is ported froman external metering valve 4100, shown schematically in FIG. 6 to thepiston pivot pin 4081 to port 4087, shown in FIG. 4. The hydraulicpressure fluid passes through the control rod 4086 to a piston rodcavity 4095. As the piston 4092 extends, hydraulic pressure fluid passesfrom the cavity 4095, through the deceleration grooves 4090, to thecylinder 4083 below the face of the piston 4092.

One end of the spring-balanced metering valve 4100 is connected to thislower cylinder area, through a port 4091, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6,while the other end of valve 4100 is connected to the hydraulic pressurefluid line 4087 leading to the cavity 4095 of the piston rod 4078.

With the piston 4092 in a particular position in the cylinder, thepiston velocity is lirnted to a particular value regardless of thedirection in which it is moving. This is accomplished by means of thecontrol grooves 4090 and the metering valve 4100. The metering valve4100 is held in a centered position by a spring at each end when thepistons are not in motion. When the pistons are in motion, a pressuredrop across the control grooves 4090 causes a pressure differentialbetween the two ends of metering valve 44.00, moving the valve 4100 fromthe centered position and throttling the fluid flow through the valve.Any tendency to increase the flow through the control grooves 4090 willincrease the pressure drop across the grooves 4090, and thus moving themetering valve 4100 still further from its centered position andincreasing the throttling eflect. The action of the metering valve 4100thus limits the pressure drop across the control grooves 4090.

The velocity of the piston 4092 is thus determined by the fluid flowpermitted through the control rod grooves, and is a variable functiondependent on the extended position of the piston rod 4078 and of thelower door 4002.

As the differential-area piston 4092 extends, hydraulic pressure fluidsupplied by the pipe assembly 4088 to the rod end of the piston 4070(4071) is forced out of the cylinder 4083 and back into the hydraulicpressure system, through a port 4079, shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. Thisoccurs because the hydraulic pressure fluid at the bottom of the piston4092 acts against a greater area than the hydraulic pressure fluid atthe rod end of the piston 4070 (4071).

To retract the piston 4092, the line, which supplied hydraulic pressurefluid to port 4087, is ported to tank. Hydraulic pressure fluid suppliedby the pipe assembly 4088 to the top of the cylinder 4083 is theneffective against the rod end of the piston 4092. The control grooves4090 and the metering valve 4100 regulate the flow of fluid to the tank,and again determine the velocity of the piston 4070 (4071).

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teachings. it is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A compound piston arrangement, comprising, a cylinder, variablebypass means spaced from the wall of said cylinder and extendinglongitudinally from one end of said cylinder and terminating short ofthe opposite end thereof, a piston arranged about said variable bypassmeans and within said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said pistonand having an axial cavity for receiving said variable bypass means,with the terminal end of said axial cavity constituting a first workingarea, the end of said piston opposite said piston rod constituting asecond working area, means for subjecting either end of said piston tofluid pressure, and means including a control rod centrally positionedin said cylinder, a passageway in said control rod extending throughsaid variable bypass means to its end spaced from the opposite end ofsaid cylinder for introducing a pressure fluid to said first workingarea, means connected to said first and second working areas to maintaina constant pressure drop through said orifice, said bypass meansincluding an orifice for transferring said fluid from said first workingarea to said second working area, said orifice being formed by aplurality of grooves progressively increasing in depth to a point andthen progressively decreasing in depth for the remainder of its length.

2. A variable velocity compound piston device, comprising, a cylinderhaving a re-entrant control element, an annular piston arrangementslidably positioned between said control element and cylinder fordefining an inside piston working area, a first outside piston workingarea arranged to CO-WOlk with said inside piston working area, and asecond outside piston working area; fluid conducting passages forsubjecting said inside piston working area and said first outside pistonworking area to a first pressurized fluid, with said second outsidepiston working area being subjected to a second pressurized fluid of anequal or greater magnitude than said first pressurized fluid, saidcontrol element having at least one variable orifice therein connectingsaid inside piston working area to said first outside piston workingarea to transfer fluid from said inside piston Working area to saidfirst outside piston working area at a predetermined rate correspondingto the desired movement of said annular arrangement of said device, saidorifice in said control element consisting of a plurality of groovesformed in the surface thereof which increase progressively in depth fromeither end to a point intermediate the ends of said grooves, saidgrooves terminating short of the ends of said control element and meansconnected to said passages of said inside piston working area and saidfirst outside piston working area for maintaining a constant pressuredrop through said variable orifice whereby a predetermined velocity ofsaid annular arrangement of said device is obtained.

3. In combination with an object to be moved, a variable velocitycompound piston device consisting of a cylinder having a re-entrantcontrol element, an annular piston arrangement slidably positionedbetween said control element and cylinder and connected to said objectto be moved and defining an inside piston Working area and a firstoutside piston working area arranged to cowork with said inside piston'working area, and a second outside piston working area; fluidconducting passages for subjecting said inside piston working area andsaid first outside piston working area to a first pressurized fluid,with said second outside piston working area being subjected to a secondpressurized fluid of an equal or greater magnitude than said firstpressurized fluid, said control element having at least one variableorifice therein connecting said inside piston working area to said firstoutside piston Working area for transferring fluid from said insidepiston working area to said first outside piston working area at apredetermined rate corresponding to the desired movement of said annulararrangement of said device, means connected to said inside pistonworking area and said first outside piston working area for maintaininga constant pressure drop through said variable orifice, whereby apredetermined velocity of said piston is obtained.

4. in the arrangement recited in claim 3, wherein said orifice in saidcontrol element consists of a groove formed in the surface thereof whichincreases progressively in area from either end thereof to the center ofsaid groove.

5. A power piston arrangement, comprising, a cylinder, means including acontrol rod centrally spaced from the wall of said cylinder andextending longitudinally from one end of said cylinder and terminatingshort of the opposite end thereof, a piston arranged concentricallyabout said control rod and within said cylinder, said control rod havingat least one longitudinally arranged groove of varying depth formed inits outer surface but terminating short of the ends thereof, a pistonrod connected to said piston and having an axial cavity to receive saidcontrol rod, means for subjecting either end of said piston to fluidpressure, and means including a passageway extending through saidcontrol rod to its end spaced from the op posite end of said cylinderfor fluid flow between said axial cavity and the end of the cylinderopposite said piston rod, means connected to both ends of said pistonfor maintaining a constant pressure drop through said variable orifice,whereby a predetermined velocity of said piston is obtained.

6. A piston arrangement, comprising, a cylinder, variable bypass meansspaced from the wall of said cylinder and extending longitudinally fromone end of said cylinder and terminating short of the opposite endthereof, a piston arranged about variable bypass means and within saidcylinder to divide it into two sections, a piston rod connected to saidpiston and having an axial cavity positioned to receive said variablebypass means, said bypass means having at least one variable orifice totransfer fluid serially from said axial cavity to the cylinder sectionopposite said piston rod end thereof, means for subjecting either end ofsaid piston to fluid pressure, and means including a passagewayextending through said variable bypass means to said axial cavity forflow or fluid therein and back through said variable orifice to saidcylinder section opposite said piston rod end, means connected to bothends of said piston for maintaining a constant pressure drop throughsaid variable orifice, whereby a predetermined velocity of said pistonis obtained.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS635,848 'Dutton Oct. 31, 1899 778,168 Bramwell Dec. 20, 1904 2,049,335Stephens July 28, 1936 2,317,563 Tucker Apr. 27, 1943 2,491,551 CrossDec. 20, 1949 2,928,379 Preciado Mar. 15, 1960 2,932,281 Moskowitz Apr.12, 1960

